BOOKSHELF
May Books
FICTION
Summer State of Mind, by Kristy Woodson Harvey
After the worst day of her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens flees to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life. On her first day at her new job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina. Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer, and the child they’ve saved together, might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for her own fresh start and relief from long-buried family secrets. But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town apart, placing Daisy, Mason and Tilley in the center of the storm.
Our Perfect Storm, by Carley Fortune
Frankie and George have been best friends since they were 8 years old. Passionate, impulsive and headstrong, they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together again. Until now. It’s the eve of Frankie’s wedding weekend, and she doesn’t know where they stand or even if George will show up as her best man. Then, at the start of the festivities, in walks George. For one glorious evening, surrounded by her loved ones, Frankie’s life is finally perfect. It all comes crashing down when her fiancé dumps her the next morning, leaving only a note as an explanation. Crushed and confused, Frankie returns to her family’s home, but George has a different idea and a plan for healing Frankie’s broken heart. He wants her to go on her honeymoon — with him — for one week to the lush rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino. Frankie agrees, seeing the trip for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship, even if it means unearthing secrets and long-buried feelings neither knows how to handle.
NONFICTION
American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed,
by Isaac Fitzgerald
In American Rambler, Fitzgerald sets out on a year-long journey to follow Appleseed’s path, walking (OK, sometimes driving, and at one point, even floating downstream) from Massachusetts to Indiana. On this journey, he turns a childhood fascination into a profound reckoning of loss and grief, ritual and faith, grimy gas station bathrooms and scenic apple picking. He is followed by a mysterious creature, camps in hostile environments, trespasses more than once, and is warmed by the generosity of strangers at every turn. American Rambler is at once an ode to the American heartland, a meditation on escaping the breakneck pace of modern life, and a clear-eyed look at the myths at the very core of American identity and history.
Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children, by Mac Barnett
Barnett champions the profound joys of literature and the importance of reading for pleasure. Make Believe is a rallying cry for art and imagination, and a celebration of the power of storytelling in all our lives. Incisive, intimate and timely, it’s an invitation to approach children’s literature not only as an art form worthy of deep study, but as a portal into the lives of the children.
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
The Outermost Mouse, by Lauren Wolk
The Outermost Mouse loves her life at the tip of the beach. Best of all is the house, a huge nest she has made her own. But a storm is coming. When the sky goes dark and a cold wind rises, the little mouse must do everything she can to protect her home. Even though she’s small enough to fit into a teacup, she is smart, strong, and brave. (Ages 4 – 8.)
Seahorse Is Furious: And There Is Nothing You Can Do About It,
by Morag Hood
Seahorse is furious. It is a bad day. In a terrible week. In an awful ocean. And nothing in that whole entire, awful ocean is going to make him feel better. That’s right: nothing. Not even his favorite things or his closest friend or the cuddliest bunny will help. Unless . . . no, no he’s furious. And there’s nothing you can do about it. (Ages 4 – 8.)
Find the Sun, by Andy Harkness
Eddie doesn’t like Mondays. He’d rather burrow under the covers than face the day. Then an unexpected friend arrives to take him on a journey. Eddie is afraid, but that’s OK, journeys can sometimes be frightening. Step by step Eddie grows braver. Before long, he understands — through any storm, you can always find the sun. (Ages 3 – 6.)